Transportation minister launches satellite phone pilot project

Motorists traveling on the Trans Labrador Highway between Labrador West and Happy Valley-Goose Bay will now have an opportunity to take a satellite phone with them on the trip. Works, Services and Transportation Minister Jim Walsh, in conjunction with the Labrador City-Wabush Rotary Club, launched the six month pilot project in Labrador City today.

"I commend the Rotary Club for proposing this idea and I am thrilled to be here with them launching this initiative on behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador," said Minister Walsh. "People in Labrador have expressed concerns about the lack of communication along the highway and we are hopeful the presence of the phones will help alleviate some of those concerns."

Starting today, a total of 60 satellite phones will be available to highway users at the following locations:

• Two Seasons Hotel, Labrador City
• Carol Inn, Labrador City
• Wabush Hotel, Wabush
• Churchill Falls Inn, Churchill Falls
• Aurora Hotel, Happy Valley-Goose Bay

Phones will be available for pick-up/drop off at these locations on a 24 hour/7 days per week basis. Phones can be signed out for a period of time not to exceed 24 hours. Users will not be charged a rental fee for the loan of the phone, providing the phone is returned to one of the approved drop-off points within 24 hours of the phone being signed out. Users who fail to return the phone within the required time period will have the total cost of the phone ($875) charged to their credit card. Users will not be charged for the cost of calls made to the listed emergency number.

"The Rotary Club is very pleased to be part of this pilot project," said Jim Farrell, Labrador City-Wabush Rotary Club. "I�m sure people traveling on the Trans Labrador Highway will be very interested in availing of this service."

Minister Walsh said that when the pilot project has concluded, the department will assess the impact of improved communications on the safety of the motoring public. He said they also hope to determine the applicability of the concept to other remote transportation routes.

Media contact: Lynn Evans, Works, Services and Transportation, (709) 729-3015

2003 05 27                                     11:00 a.m.